Early on the morning of Feb. 5 several students in Martha Noble's classroom were discussing their recent attendance at a model session of the United Nations held at the University of Georgia.

The voices criss-crossed in rapid-fire fashion, as the students talked about the experience and how they would improve their participation next year.

''You have to be quick on your feet,'' said Dillon Harper.

''You have to argue in a way that people know you know what you're talking about,'' added Sitara Kadalbal.

Two teams of students from Oconee County High School participated in the three-day UGA Model United Nations Conference that attracted students from about 20 high schools, some from outside Georgia, during the first weekend of February.

The teams were sponsored by Noble, a world history teacher at the school.

The Oconee students represented the countries of Bahrain, an oil-rich country in the Persian Gulf, and Guinea, a poor African country plagued with an AIDS crisis.

Each team at the conference is assigned to represent a country. Members of the team also serve on various UN committees such as security, human rights and disarmament.

Students from 20 high schools gathered for the University of Georgia-sponsored event.Special

The Oconee teams were assisted in the effort by their adviser, Danielle Shippee, a UGA student, who attended such a conference at UGA as a student at Pebblebrook High School in Cobb County. The conference was spearheaded by UGA political science teacher William O. Chittick, who said Oconee County High School was the first Athens area school to participate in the event.

As students discussed the conference, they wanted to improve their participation at the next such event. They suggested forming a club.

''I think you need to meet and have a mock session,'' Noble suggested.

''Even if we don't have a country we can pick things in the news and do a full mock session,'' a student said.

Shippee said on the UGA teams they also do mock sessions before they attend a competitive conference.

''You get the rules in your mind and what to say and how to say it,'' she said.

She also explained how her background in drama and the performing arts had helped her in the role.

''You get up there and it's like 'I am this country.' I am Cuba, what would Cuba do ... it's sort of a way of playing a part of, a diplomat,'' she said.

All the students agreed that the school that represented the country of Iraq performed among the best at the conference.

Harper said he believed the conference gave him a better understanding of the political process that takes place. Also, students said they understood the reasons why a country like Bahrain, which has a U.S. naval base and is a member of the Arab League, takes a neutral stand on some issues.

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on Wednesday, February 12, 2003.